OSAS Pathways: Masseno

TORONTO, February 11, 2026 – Twice a month, Woodbine Mohawk Park will profile a Standardbred connected to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS).

This week’s installment belongs to Masseno, a former racehorse turned superstar for the award-winning Canadian Cowgirl Precision Riding Drill Team, and Jamie Drew, the Canadian Cowgirl who adopted him in 2020.

Masseno, or “Bugsy” to Drew, is the only Standardbred on the team, but with each event across Ontario and the United States, the statuesque Muscle Mass gelding puts the breed’s versatility on full display.

“He’s a horse that you could take anywhere. Even if it’s his first time doing something, he tries his best and gives you 110 percent. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bad day for him or if it’s one of his best days, he still gives you 110 percent.”

Fun fact #1: Masseno’s barn name is Bugsy.

Fun fact #2: Masseno made four starts before retiring from racing in 2020, picking up two seconds and one third.

Fun fact #3: Masseno’s second dam is O’Brien Award winner Mombasa, who is also the dam of O’Brien winner Filly at Bigs. His third dam is O’Brien victor Mygal Haw Lea, the dam of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer, Bridger.

Masseno (ON)

Foaled: March 19, 2017

Sire: Muscle Mass

Dam: Tomorrows Dream

Trainer: Paul Walker (most recent)

Owner: Jamie Drew

Breeder: Paul Walker, Julie Walker

OSAS Program Status: Adopted

What type of reactions do you get when people find out Masseno is a Standardbred?

“They are definitely blown away. They usually ask me if he’s a pacer or a trotter. The most common one I get is, ‘How did you get him to lope and gallop so easy? And how does he look as good as he does while he’s doing it?’

“They definitely are blown away by his size and the way he moves compared to the other horses. Most of the team is Quarter Horses and your regular movers, so I think their eyes get drawn to him and his different movement.”

How would you best describe the connection you two share?

“I would say it’s a different kind of connection than most. He’s not always the most confident horse. He’s not a leader, he’s definitely a follower, but in any situation that he’s been put in where he has to be a lead horse or he really has to be confident in himself, he always seems to come to me for reassurance.

“He does really well when I talk him through things, simply like ‘Good boy,’ ‘Good job.’ He’ll put himself through anything, no matter how nervous or unsure he is, and he will do that for me.

“When we first met, I wasn’t used to a horse that wasn’t supremely confident. I was always on horses that were leaders, and not really followers, so that’s something I really had to learn about him and figure out different ways to accommodate his differences. I had to learn around him a bit, but I think it’s also made me a better horse person, learning from him.

“We went through a few years where we were just figuring out each other’s buttons, but now it’s drastically different. I can just lean one way, and he knows what direction I want him to go versus before there was a lot of reassurance and I’d be asking a little bit more.

“Now I can just rely on him and trust him with everything.”

Tell us about Masseno’s personality.

“He’s very sweet. He would never hurt anybody, and he will do a lot for you. When it comes time to work, he gets into that mode quickly. He knows when we get in the trailer and we go somewhere, we work, and at home we can be more laid back and goofy. He knows the difference, but he definitely still shows his personality.

“He loves younger kids, toddlers, all of them. He’s always very gentle with them at rodeos when we do meet and greets or even at bigger shows when we do autographs and things like that.

“He’s very attentive to people’s size. I don’t think he realizes how big he is, but he’s not intimidating in the slightest.”

What are you most grateful for when it comes to Masseno being in your life? 

“I think it’s the relationship we have and how much we can rely on each other. We both have learned a lot from each other. He’s taught me an insane amount of horse person skills, and now that I’m training and starting horses for other people, he’s given me the confidence to help others with that.

“I love talking about him. He’s so different that so many people are drawn to him, and it makes me very proud that he and I worked through all of those big mountains we had to climb over. Sometimes we fell down, but we achieved our goals and here we are. He’s shown so much more confidence the last few years and himself, which is amazing to see.”

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Founded in 1996, OSAS is an approved charitable organization committed to assisting in the adoption and relocation of retired and non-racing Standardbred horses within Ontario. A primary mandate of the program is to showcase the versatility of the breed to horse lovers unfamiliar with harness horses.

OSAS, which strives to educate and assist in the retraining and management of Standardbreds, relies heavily on volunteers and temporary foster homes to carry out its mission.

Those interested in getting involved with OSAS and its cause can reach out at osashorses@gmail.com or call 905-339-6748, for more information.

Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Mohawk Park